Serving and preserving system

Abstract

Embodiments of a container system for ingestion by humans and method of storing and dispensing liquids for ingestion by humans that include at least at least one first structure that can be in the general shape of a bottle. The system further includes at least one at least partially flexible container that is positioned at least partially in an inner space. The system also includes at least one liquid passageway and at least one air purger that is capable of purging air out of the at least one at least partially flexible container through at least one opening. The system also includes at least one ball check valve and at least one manually initiated valve. The invention also includes embodiments of an air pump purging system and embodiments of a method for an air pump purging system for a container system for liquids ingestible by humans.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application of David E. Eldreth, Ser. No. 61/696,143, filed on Sep. 1, 2012, entitled: Serving and Preserving System. The entire disclosure of Provisional Application of David E. Eldreth, Ser. No. 61/696,143, filed on Sep. 1, 2012, entitled: Serving and Preserving System is incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to, claims priority under and claims the benefit of the earliest available effective filing dates from the following listed application: Provisional Application of David E. Eldreth, Ser. No. 61/696,143, filed on Sep. 1, 2012, entitled: Serving and Preserving System.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes but is not limited to serving and preserving systems and air pump purging systems for ingestible liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes embodiments of a container system for ingestion by humans and method of storing and dispensing liquids for ingestion by humans that includes at least at least one first structure that has at least one partially shape-retaining structure. In some embodiments, the first structure will be in the general shape of a bottle. The at least one partially shape-retaining structure at least partially defines at least one inner space. The system further includes at least one at least partially flexible container that is positioned at least partially in the inner space. The flexible container is at least partially fillable with at least one liquid that is ingestible by humans. The flexible container includes at least one opening. The ingestible liquid is removable from the flexible container through the at least one opening. The system also includes at least one liquid passageway. The system further includes at least one air purger that is capable of purging air out of the at least one at least partially flexible container through the at least one opening. The system also includes at least one ball check valve and at least one manually initiated valve. The at least one liquid passageway can be at least partially sealable due to gravity by the at least one ball check valve, and the at least one liquid passageway can be at least partially sealable by said at least one manually initiated valve.

The invention also includes embodiments of an air pump purging system and embodiments of a method for an air pump purging system for a container system for liquids ingestible by humans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1-73 are views of embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-73 embodiments of the serving and preserving 28 and air pump purger systems 30 of the current invention are exemplarily illustrated. Although the invention has been exemplarily illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made which clearly fall within the scope of the invention. The invention is intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the exemplary FIGS., the invention includes embodiments of a container system for ingestion by humans and method of storing and dispensing liquids for ingestion by humans that includes at least at least one first structure 32 that has at least one partially shape-retaining structure 34. In some embodiments, the first structure will be in the general shape of a bottle. The at least one partially shape-retaining structure at least partially defines at least one inner space 36. The system further includes at least one at least partially flexible container 38 that is positioned at least partially in the inner space 36. The flexible container is at least partially fillable with at least one liquid 40 that is ingestible by humans. The flexible container 38 includes at least one opening 42. The ingestible liquid is removable from the flexible container through the at least one opening. The system also includes at least one liquid passageway 44. The system further includes at least one air purger 46 that is capable of purging air 48 out of the at least one at least partially flexible container through the at least one opening. The system also includes at least one ball check valve 50 and at least one manually initiated valve 52. The at least one liquid passageway can be at least partially sealable due to gravity by the at least one ball check valve, and the at least one liquid passageway can be at least partially sealable by said at least one manually initiated valve. In some embodiments, all of the surfaces that can come in contact with the liquid will be made of a food grade material.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 1-19. The at least partially flexible container of the system is made of or lined in a material, including but not limited to plastic, rubber, or silicone, such that the liquid that is ingestible by humans can be inserted into and/or stored in the container. In some embodiments, the interior of the flexible container will be made with or lined with a food grade material. The container will have an opening through which the liquid may be removed from the flexible container. In some embodiments, the flexible container opening is located generally at the top of the container. The flexible container will be at least partially flexible. As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1-19 in some embodiments, most, or all, of the flexible container is flexible. As is known in the art, when gravity causes liquid to flow out of an otherwise sealed flexible container that is not in an air tight container, a vacuum can be created in the flexible container that will enable the flexible container to compress inward. The flexible container of the current invention will be sufficiently flexible so that if the flexible container contains a liquid and the flexible container is not surrounded by an airtight outer container, if the flexible container is at least partially inverted such that the liquid is able to flow out of the flexible container, the flexible container will be able to collapse rather than maintaining the space originally occupied by the liquid. In addition, the flexible container will be sufficiently flexible so that if so that if pressure is exerted on at least a portion of the outside of the flexible portion of the container the outside of the container will compress inward, thereby pushing the inside of the flexible container inward and reducing the space inside the container. If the container has air in it, the inward pressure will be able to push the air out of the flexible container through the opening. The flexible container illustrated in FIG. 1 is made of plastic and it totally flexible at least below the upper attachment area 54.

Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, 11, 13, 14, 17 and 20-26, the flexible container of the container system will be supportable at least by a first structure, at least a portion of which includes a shape-retaining structure that can be of sufficient strength to support at least the flexible container and the valve and liquid passageway portions of the system; the valve and liquid passageway portion of the system will be described in more detail later herein. In some embodiments, the first structure can be made of more than one component. The first structure can be of sufficient strength to support the flexible container, while it is at least partially filled with a liquid, along with the valve and liquid passageway portion of the system, in a manner whereby the flexible container will not be able to collapse downward due to the weight of the flexible container, while it is at least partially filled with a liquid, and the valve and liquid passageway portion of the system. The first structure can be made of any materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered that will provide the sufficient support and inner space, including but not limited to: plastic, glass, ceramic, wood, stone, rubber, reinforced paper products and metal, including but not limited to stainless steel. In some embodiments, some or all of the material of the first structure will not be made of a food grade material. In some embodiments, some or all of the material of the first structure will be made of a food grade material In addition, the first structure can be made of materials that provide ultra violet protection to the contents therein.

In some embodiments, the first structure will include a bottle-shaped shell 56. The term “bottle shell” as used herein includes any part of a bottle-shaped shell within which a flexible member can be positioned, including when there are one or more intermediate structures between the shell and the flexible container. It is to be understood that the shape of a bottle could be other than the shape of wine bottle, and that bottles in shapes including, but not limited to, square, curved, rounded, triangular, and rectangular are intended to be included in the invention. In some embodiments, the bottle shell will be in the general shape of a standard wine bottle. The bottle shell will provide an inner space into which the flexible container can be located.

Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, 6-8, 11, 13, 14, 17, in some embodiments where the at least one partially shape-retaining side wall includes the lower portion of a bottle-shaped shell, at least a portion of the sides of the flexible container can be surrounded by the sides of the bottle shell. In these embodiments, the inner space is at least partially defined by the sides of at least a portion of the bottle shell The bottle shell can be made of any materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered that will provide the sufficient support and inner space, including but not limited to: plastic, glass, ceramic, wood, stone, rubber, reinforced paper products and metal, including but not limited to stainless steel. In addition, the bottle shell can be made of materials that provide ultra violet protection to the contents therein.

In some of these embodiments the bottle shell is in the general shape of a bottle from below what is commonly known as the neck of a bottle. In some embodiments, as illustrated exemplarily in FIGS. 26 and 27, the bottle shell can be made of one part. In some embodiments, as illustrated exemplarily in FIGS., the bottle shell 56 can be made of two or more parts, which combined resemble the general shape of a bottle. In some embodiments, the parts that can be combined to make the bottle shell include, but in some embodiments are not limited to, a bottle top piece 58 and a bottle lower piece 60.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 26-28 In this embodiment, the bottle shell is generally in the shape of a bottle and is in one piece at least from below what is generally know as the neck of a bottle. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening 62 into which the flexible container is attachable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell. In the exemplary FIGS. 22-28 an air intake opening 64 is located on the bottom of the bottle shell. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is attachable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell, wherein all of the at least one other openings to allow air into the bottle shell are sealable. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is attachable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell, wherein all of the at least one other openings to allow air into the bottle shell are sealable and wherein at least one of the sealable openings is sealable by a seal that can be attached with an air pump mechanism. FIG. 29 exemplarily illustrates a sealable air intake opening that can also function as an air pump purging opening 66.

In other embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable. In other embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell, wherein all of the at least one other openings to allow air into the bottle shell are sealable. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the bottle shell, wherein all of the at least one other openings to allow air into the bottle shell are sealable and wherein at least one of the sealable openings is sealable by a seal that can be attached with an air pump mechanism.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15. In this embodiment, the bottle shell is generally in the shape of a bottle and is in one piece at least from below what is generally know as the neck of a bottle. In this embodiment, the bottle shell is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable. As will be described in more detail later herein, an air pump purging opening 66 is included on a valve attachment intermediate piece 68, and the pumped air exists into the opening into which the flexible container is insertable at a location that is inside of the bottle wall 70 and outside of the flexible container.

The top opening leads to the liquid passageway and/or is part of the liquid passageway. The liquid passageway will be described in more detail later herein.

In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is not enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is partially enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is fully enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is fixedly partially enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is removably partially enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is fixedly totally enclosed. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of the bottle shell is removably totally enclosed.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 29-32. In some embodiments that have a removable bottom 72 of the bottle shell, the removable bottom can have an attacher 74 to the bottom of the sides of the bottle shell and the bottom of the sides of the bottle shell can have a complementary attacher. As exemplarily illustrated in these FIGS., the removable bottom can have at least a partial upward ridge on which at least one interior protrusion 76 is located. The bottom area of the sides of the bottle shell can have at least one internal indentation 78 into which the at least one protrusion can inserted, or snapped into place, to thereby removable secure the two pieces. Alternatively, the annular ridge could have at least one internal indentation, and the bottom area of the sides of the bottle shell could have at least one protrusion. Alternatively, the removable bottom and the bottom area of the sides of the bottle shell could be attached by a press fit. Also, the removable bottom and the bottom area of the sides of the bottle shell could have complementary threads. It to be understood that other mechanisms for attaching the bottom of the bottle shell to the rest of the bottle shell that are currently known in the art or to be discovered are intended to be included in the invention, including but not limited to, at least one clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by magnetic attraction and sewing.

Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 33 and 34, the exterior of at least a portion of the bottle shell, could have indicia for artistic, decorative, informational, advertising purposes and the like. For purposes of this invention, the term indicia is intended to broadly include, color, shapes, words, drawings, photographs, textures, light and the like. In some embodiments, when the bottle shell is made of a clear or translucent material, a fixed or removable indicia piece 80 could be inserted. The interior of the bottom lower piece could include an insert holding flange 82 or bracket, as known in the art, to hold at least one fixed or removable indicia inserts.

The manner by which the flexible container is attached with the bottle shell, either directly or indirectly, can vary. In some embodiments, sealing the flexible container at an upper most narrow location on the bottle shell, valve attachment piece, valve attachment intermediate piece or upper support piece can allow for a more neutral vacuum inside the flexible container when the liquid pours out than sealing the flexible container at a location that is not the upper most narrow location. In addition, other than where the flexible container attaches with the bottle shell either directly or indirectly, providing a totally flexible container can create more of a vacuum than when the flexible container is only partially flexible.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 26-28, in some embodiments, the flexible container can be attached with the top 84 of the bottle shell. The flexible container can be attached with the bottle shell in a sealable manner whereby the liquid will be directed to the liquid passageway when the structure is at least partially inverted. The portion of the flexible container surrounding the opening is heat sealed to the mouth of the bottle shell. It is to be understood, however, that the flexible container could be attached to mouth of the bottle shell in other sealed ways including but not limited to, by gluing, taping and/or overlapping the flexible container over the top of the bottle shell and then securing it with a rubber band, gasket, zip tie, string, securing it between threads on the mouth of the bottle shell and complementary threads on an attaching member, such as but not limited to a valve attachment piece or a valve attachment intermediate piece.

In some embodiments, a flexible container can be attached with the bottle shell by utilizing an intermediate structure.

Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, 19, 20, and 35, in some embodiments the flexible container is attached with an upper support piece 86 that is at least semi-rigid in rigidity, such that it will support the weight of the flexible container when it is at least partially filled with the ingestible liquid. In some embodiments, the upper support piece will be able to support the weight of the flexible container when it is filled with the ingestible liquid. The upper support piece can be made of any materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered that will provide the sufficient support, including but not limited to: plastic, glass, ceramic, wood, stone, rubber, silicone, reinforced paper, and metal, including but not limited to stainless steel.

In some embodiments, the flexible container can be attached in a sealable manner with the upper support piece whereby the liquid will be directed to the liquid passageway when the structure is at least partially inverted. As exemplary illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 35, the portion of the flexible container surrounding the opening can be heat sealed to the top of the upper support piece. It is to be understood, however, that in other embodiments the flexible container could be attached to the upper support piece in other ways currently known in the art or to be discovered, including but not limited to, by gluing, taping and/or overlapping the flexible container over the top of the upper support piece and then securing it with a rubber band, gasket, zip tie, string, and the like.

It is to be understood that in some embodiments, the flexible container can be attached with the upper support piece at different locations as exemplarily illustrated in the FIG. 37.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 19, in some embodiments, the top of the upper support piece can have threads 88 on which to thread a cap before use. In addition, in some embodiments, the top of the upper support piece could have other removable sealers, currently known in the art or to be discovered, to seal the opening at the top of the upper support piece, and along therewith, the interior of the flexible container, for purposes that could include, but are not limited to, display and/or transport. The other sealers could include, but are not limited to a removable heat sealed top, a removable adhesive-secured top and/or a stopper.

Referring now to exemplary FIG. 38, in some embodiments, the bottom of the upper support piece can have at least a partial annular ledge 90 for centering the upper support piece on and/or resting the upper support piece on the underlying bottom lower piece.

In some embodiments the upper support piece could have at least one purge line indicia. In some embodiments, the purge line could indicate at least one minimal, maximal and/or recommended purge line.

Some embodiments of the invention include at least one bottle top piece 58. The bottle top piece can cover at least part of the upper support piece. The top of the upper support piece can interact with the inside of the bottle top piece in a sealable manner. In some of these embodiments an o-ring gasket 92 is included to seal the junction. In some of these embodiments an o-ring gasket is included to seal the junction from air leakage. It is to be understood that other sealers known in the art or to be discovered could be used at the juncture. Materials from which the sealers can be made, include materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to: silicone, rubber, plastic and cork. In some embodiments, when the bottle top piece is secured to the system, the top of the upper support piece is pushed against the sealer to enhance the seal. In some of these embodiments, the bottle top piece is secured to the system by being attached to the bottle lower piece. In some of these embodiments, the bottle top piece is secured to the system by being attached to the upper bottom threads of the upper support piece. It is to be understood that other mechanisms currently known or to be discovered for sealing the top of the upper support piece at its junction with the bottle top piece are intended to be included in this invention.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 1,2,11, 13, 14, 17, 21-25, 30, 31, 35-53, In some embodiments the bottle top piece attaches with the bottom lower piece. The top piece can be attached to the bottom piece in ways currently known in the art and to be discovered including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads. The complementary threads can be configured in a number of ways, including but not limited to, outward facing threads that are internal, outward facing threads that are external, inward facing threads that are internal or inward facing threads that are external, In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 38-41, the bottle top piece threads can face inward with external threads and bottom lower piece threads can face outward with internal threads. In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 42-44, the bottle top piece threads can face inward with internal threads and bottom lower piece threads can face outward with external threads.

In some embodiments, the bottle top piece threads can face outward with external threads and bottom lower piece threads can face inward with internal threads. In some embodiments the bottle top piece threads can face outward with internal threads and bottom lower piece threads can face inward with external threads. In some embodiments, when the bottom lower piece has threads that face inward, the top of the bottom lower piece below the threaded area can have at least one inward facing protrusion onto which the bottom of the upper support piece can rest and/or be supported.

In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 47, 48, and 50, the bottle top piece can attach to the upper support piece and the bottle bottom piece also can attach to the upper support piece. The bottle top piece and the bottom lower piece can be attached to the upper support piece in ways currently known in the art and to be discovered, including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads. As exemplary illustrated in the FIGS., the complementary threads can be configured in a number of ways, including but not limited to, outward facing threads that are internal or external and inward facing threads that are internal or external. In some embodiments, the bottle top piece threads can face inward with external threads and bottom lower piece threads can face outward with internal threads. In some embodiments, the bottle top piece threads can face inward with internal threads and bottom lower piece threads can face outward with external threads. In some embodiments, the bottle top piece threads can face outward with external threads and bottom lower piece threads can face inward with internal threads. In some embodiments, the bottle top piece threads can face outward with internal threads and bottom lower piece threads can face inward with external threads. Reference is now made to FIG. 50 that exemplarily illustrates an abutment ridge 94 between the upper and lower threads on the upper support piece. In some embodiments, the abutment ridge can function to provide a guide to end the action of threading the bottle top piece and/or the bottle lower piece to the upper support piece.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIGS, in some embodiments when the top piece threads are inward facing and when the bottom lower piece threads are outward facing, or when the top piece threads are outward facing and when the bottom lower piece threads are inward facing, there can be a transitional portion 96 between the inward facing and outward facing threads.

Referring now to exemplary FIG. 52, in some embodiments a sealer, such as but limited to a gasket, can be added to the top inner junction between the upper support piece and the bottle lower piece.

Referring now to exemplary FIGS. 17, 18, 20, in some embodiments, the flexible container can be at least partially surrounded by an outer encasement 98. In some embodiments, the outer encasement can be of sufficient rigidity that it will support at least a partially filled with liquid flexible container. In some embodiments, the outer encasement can be of sufficient rigidity that it will support a fully filled with liquid flexible container. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20 in some embodiments, the flexible container can be attached with an upper support piece, either with or without bottom threads as described above, and in addition can have at least a partial outer encasement. In some embodiments, the outer encasement can be of sufficient rigidity that it will support at least a partially filled with liquid flexible container and an upper support piece. The outer encasement can be of sufficient rigidity that it will support at least a fully filled with liquid flexible container and an upper support piece. The outer encasement can be of sufficient rigidity that it will support at least a fully filled with liquid flexible container and an upper support piece.

In some embodiments the encasement can cover at least part of the outside of the flexible bladder, and then be removed before being inserted into the bottle shell. In other embodiments, the encasement can cover at least part of the outside of the flexible bladder, and then be inserted into the bottle shell along with the flexible container for use of the container system. The encasement can have benefits including but not limited to for protection, display, packaging and/or ease of transport prior to use in the bottle shell.

The outer encasement can be made of any materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered that will provide the sufficient support, including but not limited to, plastic, glass, ceramic, wood, stone, rubber, reinforced paper products and metal, including but not limited to stainless steel. Generally the encasement does not come in contact with the liquid, and in some embodiments the material of the outer encasement is not made of a food grade material. The outside of the outer encasement can have indicia on it for various display purposes.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 17 and 18. In this embodiment, the encasement and it is generally in the shape of a bottle. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the encasement is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening 100, into which the flexible container is insertable and/or attachable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the encasement. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the encasement is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening, into which the flexible container is insertable and/or attachable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the encasement, wherein all of the at least one other opening to allow air into the encasement are sealable. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the encasement is totally enclosed, with the exception of a top opening into which the flexible container is insertable, and with the exception of at least one other opening that will allow air into the interior of the encasement, wherein all of the at least one other openings to allow air into the bottle shell are sealable and wherein at least one of the sealable openings is sealable by a seal that can be attached with an air pump mechanism It is to be understood that the top opening leads to the liquid passageway. The liquid passageway will be described in more detail later herein.

Referring now to FIG. 20, the outer encasement can be fixedly attached with the upper support piece such that the outer encasement, flexible container and upper support piece are insertable into a bottle shell inner space. The outer encasement can be fixedly attached with the upper support piece by mechanisms currently known in the art or to be discovered, including but not limited to, gluing, heat sealing, taping, stapling, screwing, bolting, sewing and hook and loop material. In such embodiments, the diameter of the outer encasement must be smaller than the diameter of the bottle shell into which it is being inserted. In some embodiments that utilize a fixedly attached outer encasement, the bottom of the outer encasement can be not covered, thereby exposing the bottom of the flexible container. In some embodiments that utilize a fixedly attached outer encasement, the bottom of the outer encasement can be partially not covered, thereby exposing some of the bottom of the flexible container. In some embodiments that utilize a fixedly attached outer encasement, the bottom of the outer encasement can be covered with a removable cover, which when it is removed, exposes at least part of the bottom of the flexible container. Exposure of at least part of the bottom of the flexible container is necessary for some of the purging mechanisms that will be disclosed later herein. The bottom of the outer encasement can be removably attached to the adjoining portions of the encasement by ways including by not limited to, adhesive and heat sealing.

Referring now to exemplary illustrations FIGS. 20A and 20 B, In one embodiment, the outer encasement of FIG. 20A can be removably attached with the upper support piece such that the outer encasement can be removed, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20 B, before the flexible container and upper support piece are inserted into a bottle shell inner space. The outer encasement can be removably attached with the upper support piece by mechanisms currently known in the art or to be discovered, including but not limited to, including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads. In such an embodiment, the diameter of the outer encasement does not have to be smaller than the diameter of the bottle shell.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2, 9-16, 21, 26, 28, 29, 30, 35, 37, 38, 48, 49, 54-63, which exemplarily illustrate at least one liquid passageway 44 in the system. The liquid passageway has a proximal end 102 and a distal end 104. The proximal end is the end that is closest to the flexible container and the distal end is the end that is closest to the outside of the container. It is to be understood that in some embodiments, the distal end of the liquid passageway is where the container opens to the outside of the container, and that in other embodiments, it would be possible to add one or more mechanisms of some kind to the distal end through which the liquid and/or air would have to flow to reach the outside of the container. The liquid from the flexible container is removable from the flexible container through the at least one opening and through the liquid passageway while traveling from the proximal end to the distal end. In addition, if there is air in the flexible container, it is removable from the flexible container through the at least one opening and through the liquid passageway while traveling from the proximal end to the distal end. When all the valves are open, the liquid passageway provides a passageway through which the liquid and/or air and can flow generally without allowing the liquid and/or air to escape from the passageway other than at the distal end or the proximal end.

The liquid passageway includes at least one ball check valve, which is known in the art, and at least one manually initiated valve. In some embodiments at least one ball check valve and at least one manually initiated valve will be located sequentially along the liquid passageway whereby the ball check valve is located closer to the proximal end of the liquid passageway and a manually initiated valve is located closer to the distal end of the liquid passageway. Some embodiments can include more than one ball check valve and/or more one manually initiated valve in at least one liquid passageway.

The at least one ball check valve is situated in the at least one liquid passageway such that the liquid passageway is at least partially sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve. In some embodiments, the at least one ball check valve situated in the liquid passageway such that the least one liquid passageway is at least partially sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the container is in an upright position. In some embodiments when the first structure is in the shape of a bottle, the at least one ball check valve is situated in the liquid passageway such that the liquid passageway is at least partially sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the bottle shell is in an upright position.

The at least one ball check valve situated in the at least one liquid passageway such that the liquid passageway is generally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve. In some embodiments, the at least one ball check valve situated in the liquid passageway such that the least one liquid passageway is generally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the container is in an upright position. In some embodiments when the first structure is in the shape of a bottle, the at least one ball check valve is situated in the liquid passageway such that the least one liquid passageway is generally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the bottle shell is in an upright position.

The at least one ball check valve situated in the at least one liquid passageway such that the liquid passageway is totally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve. In some embodiments, the at least one ball check valve situated in the liquid passageway such that the least one liquid passageway is totally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the container is in an upright position. In some embodiments when the first structure is in the shape of a bottle, the at least one ball check valve is situated in the liquid passageway such that the least one liquid passageway is totally sealable by gravity by the at least one ball check valve when the bottle shell is in an upright position.

The speed and/or degree of sealability of the liquid passageway can vary with elements including, but not limited to, the materials and/or quality of the valve seat and/or the ball. It is to be understood that the invention is intended to include ball check valves of various varieties known in the art or to be discovered, provided the ball check valve will enable the liquid to flow past it at least when the valve is in a generally inverted position, and will enable purged air to flow past it when the valve is in a generally upright position. The purging of air is described in more detail later herein. In addition, as the valve is to be used with ingestible liquids, the passage of various liquids past the valve may leave deposits of sediment and/or other various materials on portions of the valves that would impact the sealability of the valve. If the liquid is wine, it is well known in the art that wine can deposit materials that include, but are not limited to, sediment known as lees or dregs, on a valve. As a result, a valve that is totally sealable without deposits on the valve, can become only partially sealable when the deposits are present.

In some embodiments, to reduce the sediment and other materials that can flow with the liquid past the valve, at least one deposit barrier 106, such as but not limited to a flange with perforations and/or a screen can be placed at least partially across the liquid passageway below the ball check valve.

In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in the FIGS., the ball check valve has an annular v-shaped valve seat 108 and a ball stopper 26. The angle of the v-shaped seat can increase the speed with which the ball closes the opening in the v-shaped valve upon moving the valve from at least a partially inverted position to a generally upright position. In some embodiments that include a ball check valve and annular v-shaped valve seat, the range of the angle of the sides of the valve-shaped seat is between 60 and 40 degrees off center. In some embodiments that include a ball check valve and annular v-shaped valve seat, the range of the angle of the sides of valve-shaped seat is between 45 and 40 degrees off center. In some embodiments that include a ball check valve and annular v-shaped valve seat, the angle of the sides of the v-shaped seat is 40 degrees off center. It is to be understood however, the angle of the sides of the v-shaped seat could include any angle range as long as the ball in the ball check valve can travel from being unseated when the container inverted to being seated in the valve seat due to gravity when the container and the valve seated are placed in an upright position.

When the container is inverted, the ball in the ball check valve will be prevented from flowing out of the mouth of the container by ways currently known in the art and to be discovered. Referring now to exemplary FIG. 58, in some embodiments, an at least partially perforated upper barrier 110, which in some embodiments can be at least one flange and/or at least one screen, can be positioned above the ball in a manner whereby the upper barrier will not become dislodged when the container is partially or totally inverted. The upper barrier will be sized and located such that the ball will not be able to pass the flange when the container is partially or totally inverted. In addition, the perforations in the upper barrier will be located and sized such that the liquid will be able pass through the perforations while the barrier prevents the ball from traveling beyond the barrier.

The distance of the upper barrier from the top of the ball when the ball is in a sealed position in the ball check valve, which referred to as the “ball-upper barrier distance” can regulate how fast the liquid can flow out of the bottle when the bottle is partially or totally inverted. When the ball-upper barrier distance is shorter the flow is slower and when the distance is longer the flow is faster. In some embodiments, the ball-upper barrier distance is in the range of 0.117 to 0.5 inches. In some embodiments, the ball-upper barrier distance is 0.117 inches. It is to be understood that distances greater than 0.5 inches and less than 0.117 inches are intended to be included in the invention, provided that the ball in the ball check valve is not so close to the ball-upper barrier that the ball cannot move a sufficient distance from the valve seat to enable the liquid to pour past the ball check valve when the bottle is inverted.

Reference is now made to FIG. 63, which exemplarily illustrates an embodiment whereby the ball in the ball check valve is prevented from exiting the mouth of the container by tethering the ball. In this exemplary illustration, a tether is attached with the ball and extended downward in the at least one hole in the valve seat that allows the liquid to pass when the ball is not seated, which is referred to herein as the valve seat hole. The tether 112 below the valve seat is expanded into a ring whereby the ring has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the valve seat hole, thereby the expanded portion of the tether is prevented from passing through the valve seat hole and the ball is prevented from traveling while in an inverted position beyond the distance that the tether will allow. In this embodiment, and in similar embodiments, the portion of the tether passing through the valve seat hole cannot be so wide that is will prevent the liquid from passing through the valve seat hole when the bottle is inverted, and the expanded ring portion of the tether below the valve seat hole cannot be so thick or otherwise large that it will prevent the liquid from passing through the valve seat hole when the bottle is inverted. It is intended that other ball tethers known in the art and to be discovered are intended to be included in the invention.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10, 11-16, 61 and 62 The invention is intended to include a variety of manually initiated valves currently known in the art and to be discovered, which include, but are not limited to ball valves, spigot valves and quarter turn valves. In some embodiments the OXO brand Wine Stopper/Pourer Combination ball valve can be used. The speed of closing the valve and/or the degree of sealability of the liquid passageway by the valve can vary with elements including, but not limited to, the type of valve, the materials and/or quality of the valve. It is to be understood that it is not the intention of the invention that the valve itself must be manually closed. Rather, it is the intention of the invention that the time when a valve will be closed will be initiated manually by a user. In some embodiments, the user can use a mechanism currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to by pushing or pulling a lever, pushing an button, accessing a computer indicia and the like to close the manually initiated valve. Among the benefits of the user being able to manually initiate the manual valve include that the user can decide when to close the valve.

Since, as described earlier in relation to the ball check valve, the ball check valve might not create a total seal to incoming air, the user will have the manually initiated valve as a supplemental seal against air infiltration. In addition, many embodiments of manually initiated valves, such as but not limited to ball valves, quarter turn valves and spigot valves, when placed in closed position, will not open if the container were turned in any direction, unlike the ball check valve that would open due to gravity if the container were partially and/or fully inverted, and these manually initiated valves can provide a supplemental seal against spills when the container is partially inverted.

Depending on the user's intention for the functionality of the manually initiated valve, in use, the user can decide when to close the manually initiated valve. Times when a user might want to close the manually initiated valve include, but are not limited to, when the container is inverted and liquid is pouring out of the container, when the bottle is upright and air had been purged to just before the ball check valve, when the bottle is upright, the air has been purged out of the flexible container and the liquid has been forced up to the ball check valve, when the bottle is upright, the air has been purged out of the flexible container and the liquid has been forced up to between the ball check valve and the manually initiated valve, when the bottle is upright, the air has been purged out of the flexible container and the liquid has been forced up past the manually initiated valve, and at any time without purging air. In some embodiments, the manually initiated valve can be closed without first purging air out of the flexible container if, among other functions, the use of the valve is to prevent liquid spillage and/or if there is minimal or no air in the flexible bladder and the manually initiated valve is used to prevent or minimize air leakage into the flexible container through the ball check valve.

The liquid passageway can be housed in one or more parts. In addition, in some embodiments, the liquid passageway can be molded along with the bottle shell, the bottle top member and/or or the upper support piece.

Reference is now made to FIG. 16, in which part of the liquid passageway is at least partially located in at least one valve attachment piece 114. In this embodiment, a valve attachment piece is attached with the bottle shell by the use of snap fit. It is to be understood that other attachers, currently known in the art or to be discovered, including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by complementary threads, by magnetic attraction, and sewing, could be used to attach the valve attachment member with a first structure, bottle shell bottle top piece, upper support piece and/or outer encasement.

In this embodiment, the ball check valve seat, which includes the valve seat hole, insertable as a separate piece within the valve attachment member. The valve seat is surrounded by a valve seat seal to seal the liquid and/or air that may flow through the passageway. A deposit barrier is located below the valve seat and valve seat seal. In some embodiments, the valve seat, and sediment barrier if included, could be molded into the valve attachment member. It is understood that in other embodiments the ball check valve could be attached within the liquid passageway in other ways and/or with other attachers currently known in the art or to be discovered.

In this embodiment, the valve attachment member includes a top fitment 116 receptacle projection 118. The receptacle projection allows a top fitment, which is described on more detail herein, to be inserted and attached by means of friction. In this embodiment, the shape of the exterior of the fitment and of the interior of the top fitment receptacle projection are the same, with the size of the exterior of the top fitment being slightly smaller than the interior of the top fitment receptacle projection such that the top fitment may be inserted and yet secured by the friction between the two pieces. It is understood that in other embodiments, the top fitment could be attached with the attached with the valve seat attachment member in other ways and/or with other attachers currently known in the art or to be discovered including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 1, 2, and 35, in which part of the liquid passageway is located in the bottle top piece. In this embodiment, the ball check valve seat, which includes the valve seat hole, is inserted as a separate piece within the bottle top piece. The valve seat is surrounded by a valve seat seal to seal the liquid and/or air that may flow through the passageway. A deposit barrier is located below the valve seat and valve seat seal. In some embodiments, the valve seat could be molded into the bottle top piece, or otherwise integrally attached. It is understood that in other embodiments the ball check valve could be attached within the liquid passageway in other ways and/or with other attachers currently known in the art or to be discovered.

In this embodiment, the bottle top piece includes a top fitment receptacle projection. The receptacle projection allows a top fitment, which is described on more detail herein, to be inserted and attached by means of friction. In this embodiment, the shape of the exterior of the fitment and of the interior of the top fitment receptacle projection are the same, with the size of the exterior of the top fitment being slightly smaller than the interior of the top fitment receptacle projection such that the top fitment may be inserted and yet secured by the friction between the two pieces. It is understood that in other embodiments, the top fitment could be attached with the attached with the bottle top piece in other ways and/or with other attachers currently known in the art or to be discovered, including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2. which exemplarily illustrate embodiments of a top fitment. In these embodiments, at least one top fitment is attachable with the lower portions of the liquid passageway. In these embodiments, the top fitment includes an upper barrier and an attacher for at least one manually initiated valve. In these embodiments, the attacher for at least one manually initiated valve is a fitment receptacle projection. In these embodiments, the fitment receptacle projection is cylindrical and is sized to have the same inner shape and size as the interior of a standard wine bottle. A manually initiated valve that is sized to be insertable into the top of a standard wine bottle, such as but not limited to a OXO ball valve, is insertable into the fitment receptacle projection. It is to be understood that in some embodiments the top fitment could not include an upper barrier. It is to be understood that in some embodiments the manually initiated valve could be attached with other attachers to the top fitment or could be an integral part of the top fitment or could be integral with the rest of the liquid passageway. It is to be understood that in some embodiments the shape and/size of the top fitment could be other than the size of a standard wine bottle.

In some embodiments, the fitment can include at least one outer ledge 120, which can impact the top of the piece to which it is being attached, such as but not limited to a bottle top piece, upper support piece, outer encasement, or valve attachment piece, into which the fitment is being inserted. The outer ledge will define the closest that the upper barrier, if one is present, can be positioned above the ball in the ball stopper without impacting the ball. In this manner, in some embodiments, the positioning of the outer ledge can be used to position the distance of the upper barrier from the top of the ball in the ball check valve, and thereby regulate the flow rate of the liquid from the container. FIG. exemplarily illustrates a outer ledge that projects annually around the circumference of the outside of the top fitment. It is to be understood that some top fitments could not have an outer ledge.

In some embodiments, the upper end of the top fitment could be threaded to receive a complementary threaded cap. In some embodiments, the top fitment could be enclosed and could be used as an removable lid over the liquid passageway. In some embodiments, a stopper could be placed in the top of the top fitment to seal the liquid passageway

The container system includes at least one purger that is capable of purging air out of the flexible container. The air purger can be any purger or purging system currently known or to be discovered that will function with the system. The purger will cause inward pressure on the outside of the flexible container. The inward pressure on the outside of the flexible bag can cause the flexible container to flex inward and reduce the space inside of the flexible container; and thereby since any air in the flexible container will be lighter than liquid, if there is air in the flexible container, enable at least some of the air that is present in the flexible container to be forced out of the at least one opening. In order to purge the air, the manually initiated valve must be at least partially open and the ball check valve must have a dislodge pressure value, commonly known as a cracking pressure value, which is the minimum upstream pressure at which the ball can be dislodged upward from the seat, for the upward flow of air past the ball check valve and out of the container through the liquid passageway.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIG. 6. The bottle shell can have an opening, referred to as a bottom purging hole, in the bottom of the bottle shell through with the bottom of the flexible container can be accessed. A push-up tool 122, which can include but is not limited to a stick, rod or a person's finger, can be inserted into the bottom purging hole to push the flexible container upward and purge air from the container. In some embodiments, the push-up tool is removable from the container. In some embodiments the push-up tool will impact the bottom of a purging member 124, which is described in more detail later herein, and thereby pushing up the purging member and the flexible container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, 29, 30, 40, and 64-70, a purging member is exemplarily illustrated. The base of the purging member is generally the portion of the purging member that is generally directly below the flexible container. In some embodiments, the purging member is made up of only a base portion. In some embodiments the purging member is semi-rigid in rigidity. In some embodiments the purging member is rigid in rigidity. In these FIGS. the shape of the base portion of the purging member is generally in the shape of a disk, but it is to be understood that in other embodiments other shapes could be used. The base portion that must be sufficiently wide to be able to push the flexible container upward, while being smaller than the inside dimensions of the inner space so that the base portion of the purging member can be located inside the inner space and can be moved at least upward in the inner space. In this embodiment, the purging member is in the same shape, which is a circular shape, as at least a portion of the sides of the inner space of the bottle shell. In this embodiment, the circumference of the purging member is smaller than the circumference of the inside of the bottle shell whereby the purging member can be pushed upward inside the inner space and without impacting the sides of the inner space other than where the purging handle is located. In this embodiment, a purging handle is included. The purging handle connects with the purging member, or is integral with the purging member, and the handle extends to the outside of the bottle shell so that a user can handle it to at least push the purging member upward. It is to be understood that some embodiments do not have a purging handle, have more than one purging handle or have purging handles in other shapes than the shape exemplarily illustrated.

In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in the FIGS., the purging member has a short annular upward facing wall 20. In some embodiments, the wall can help to keep the purging member from tilting while being pushed upward and can help to keep the flexible container centered on the purging member. It is to be understood that in some embodiments the purging member will not have an annular upward facing wall, will have an upward facing wall in a shape other than circular or will have a partial upward facing wall.

In some embodiments, as exemplarily illustrated in the FIGS, the purging member will have a wall abutment protrusion 22. The wall abutment protrusion is on at least one side of the purging handle, and in this embodiment is located on both sides of the purging handle and extends from the end outside of the upward facing wall to abut or almost abut the inner wall of the bottle shell on either side of where the purging handle extends through the wall of the bottle shell. The abutment protrusion can prevent or minimize the degree of tilt on the body of the purging member when it is being lifted upward by the purging handle along a purging groove in a bottle shell by maintaining a more snug fit between the purging body and the inside of the bottle shell at the location near where the handle transects the wall of the bottle shell.

As exemplarily illustrated in these FIGS. the bottle shell can have a vertical purging groove 126. In this exemplary illustration, a bottom lower piece is illustrated, but it is to be understood that the purging groove could be in any form of the bottle shell. The purging groove is open from the outside to the inside of the side of the bottle bottom lower piece. In some embodiments, the purging handle can be pushed at least upward along the purging groove, and since the handle is connected to the purging member, thereby transport the purging member upward in the inner space.

The FIGS. that exemplarily illustrate an embodiment of a bottle shell that has a removable bottom bottle piece, a purging member with a purging handle and a purging groove. An embodiment with a bottle shell that includes a bottom lower piece is illustrated. In this embodiment, the bottle bottom piece is removable, which is described above herein. When the removable bottle bottom piece will be used with a first structure in the shape of a bottle that has a purging groove, a purger groove spacer can be included that can be insertable into the bottom of the purger groove when the bottle bottom piece is attached, such that the side of the first groove wall will abut one side of the spacer and the side of the second groove wall will abut the other side of the spacer. The presence of the purger groove spacer can prevent the walls of the bottom of the bottle from collapsing inward when the bottle is upright.

A removable bottle bottom allows for a purging member to be inserted from bottom, which can be advantageous during production. Attaching the removable bottom to the rest of the bottle shell by snapping it in place, as described for some embodiments above herein, or by attaching the removable bottom with a press fit attachment can enable the purger spacer to easily be aligned with the purger groove. Attaching a removable bottom with complementary threads on the bottom piece and on the sides of the bottle shell is possible, however in some embodiments it might be more difficult to align the purger spacer with the purger groove by use of complementary threads than by use of some embodiments that use snap on or press fit attachments.

Reference is further made to FIG. 67, which exemplarily illustrates a purging member with a partially thickened bottom 24. As previously described herein, in some embodiments when there is a removable bottle bottom, the sides of the removable bottom overlap a portion of the side of the bottle shell. In some embodiments, the purging handle cannot transect the wall of the bottom of the sides of the bottle shell below where the sides of the removable bottle bottom piece overlap. The thickened bottom of the purging member thereby allows the purging handle to be attached generally at the top of the base of the purging member. It is to be understood that the entire bottom of the purging member could be thickened or locations at the bottom of the purging member other than that illustrated.

It is to be understood that a container system could have a purging member with a purging handle and also the bottom of the bottle shell could have an opening so that the purging member could be pushed upward either by use of the handle or by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the purging member through a hole in the bottom of the bottle shell and pushing the purging member upward. It is further to be understood that in some embodiments, the purging member will not have a purging handle and the purging member will be used by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the purging member through a hole in the bottom of the bottle shell and pushing the purging member upward. In other embodiments, the bottom of the purging member will not be accessible and the purging member will be used to purge air by the user pushing the purging handle upward.

Purging members can be used in some embodiments where the flexible container is at least partially encased by an outer encasement. If the encasement is not removable, if there is a purging member in the encasement and if the bottom of the encasement is at least partially exposed, if there is no bottom on the bottle shell or if the bottom of the bottle shell has at least one purging hole lined up with at least one opening in the bottom of the encasement, then the purging member can be used by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the purging member through an opening in the bottom of the bottle shell and pushing the purging member upward. As previously described, in some embodiments the bottom of the encasement can be removably sealed for transport, storage and the like, and the purging member can be sealed inside the encasement before it is sealed, whereby when the sealed encasement is unsealed the purging member is already inserted inside the encasement under the flexible container and ready for use. In some of these embodiments, the encasement, flexible container and purger will be disposable after use.

If the encasement is not removable, if there is a purging member in the bottom of the bottle shell, there is no bottom covering on the encasement or if the bottom covering of the encasement can be removed, if the bottom of the bottle shell has at least one purging hole, then the purging member can be used by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the purging member through an opening in the bottom of the bottle and pushing the purging member upward.

In embodiments where at least one purging member can be used where the flexible container is at least partially encased by an outer encasement and where the encasement is removable, the purging member can be used by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the purging member through a hole in the bottom of the bottle shell, if at least one bottle bottom purging hole exists and by pushing the purging member upward or the purging member could be used by use of a handle if a purger groove exists. As previously described, in some embodiments the bottom of the encasement can be removably sealed for transport, storage and the like, and the purging member can be sealed inside the encasement before it is sealed, whereby when the sealed encasement is unsealed the purging member is already present and ready for use. In some of these embodiments, the encasement, flexible container and purger will be disposable after use.

In some embodiments, the purging member will only be able to be moved in an upward direction. In other embodiments, the purging member will be able to be moved in an upward and downward direction.

If the encasement is not removable, if there is not a purging member in the encasement or on the bottom of the bottle shell, if there is no bottom on the bottle shell or if the bottom of the bottle shell has at least one purging hole, and if the bottom of the encasement is removable or has at is at least one purging hole that is at least partially lined up with the open bottom of the bottle shell or at least one purging hole in the bottle shell, then the flexible container can be pushed upward by use of a purging tool accessing the bottom of the flexible container through an opening in the bottom of the bottle shell.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8-10, 13-15 and 71-72. The invention also includes embodiments of the use of at least one air pump purger in the container system. The system further includes at least one air-trapping space 128. The at least one air trapping space abuts and is located outside of the flexible container. The air trapping space has at least one air sealable opening 130. The system further includes at least one air pump and at least one attacher. The attacher can attach the air pump, either directly or indirectly, with the sealable opening, such that the sealable opening can be sealed when the attacher is attached. When the attacher is attached with the opening and air is inserted inside the air trapping space the air is able to be contained inside the air trapping space and thereby able to cause inward pressure on the outside of the flexible container. The air pressure on the outside of the flexible container can cause the flexible container to flex inward and reduce the space inside of the flexible container; and since air is lighter than liquid, thereby, if there is air in the flexible container, enable at least some of the air that is present in the flexible container to be forced out of the at least one opening.

One or more air pump purging holes can be anywhere on the container provided the pumped air can be directed to the air trapping space. In some embodiments the hole that is the air intake hole for the flexible container vacuum when the liquid is being poured out of the container can then be used as the air pump purging hole when the user is ready to purge air out of the flexible container. In some embodiments, at least one sealer could surround the exterior of the air pump purging hole. Materials from which the sealer can be made, include materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to: silicone, rubber, plastic and cork. In some embodiments of these embodiments at least one sealing o-ring can seal the bottom hole. Referring now to exemplary FIG. 8, the hole in the bottom of the bottle shell can be used both to provide access by a purging tool to the flexible container or a purging member, and as a sealable hole with which an air pump can be attached. If the hole at the bottom of the bottle shell accesses the bottom of a purging member, the pumped air must be able to get past the purging member to be able to exert pressure on the flexible container.

In some embodiments, at least one perforation is provided though the bottom of the purging element to enable the pumped air to pass, while at the same time the at least one perforation is not so large that a purging tool would fit through the hole or holes rather than impacting the space around the hole or holes and pushing the purging element upward. In another embodiment exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 73 of this embodiment, the hole in bottom of the bottle shell is larger than a hole through the bottom of the purging member whereby an air pump tube with a diagonally shaped stopper at the end of the tube that does not stop the air flow through the tube and that is most narrow at the end where the air exists the tube can be inserted into the bottle bottom purging hole and purging member bottom hole. In this embodiment, the inserted air tube and stopper will seal both the bottle bottom purging hole and the purging member bottom hole while air is being pumped into the air trapping space. In this embodiment, when the air tube and stopper are removed from the bottle bottom purging hole and the purging member bottom hole, a purging tool still will be able to be inserted through the bottom purging hole and have a solid surface on the purging element to impact and push the purging element upward. In other embodiments, the at least one perforation in the purging element can be placed in a location that is not where the purging tool would impact them. In some embodiments, there will be sufficient space between the at least one edge of the purging element and the inside side of the container to enable sufficient pumped air to pass when it is pumped into only the bottle bottom purging hole.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIG. 8. In this embodiment, an air pump purging hole located at the bottom of the bottle shell can be placed on the air pump air tube or other attachment. In this embodiment, pressing down on the bottle will seal the air tube against sealing o-ring surrounding the air pump purging hole. Materials from which the sealing o-ring can be made, include materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to: silicone, rubber, plastic and cork. In some embodiments of this embodiment an air pump that that does not utilize compressed air may be turned on, and after a period of time, air will be removed from the flexible container, but the liquid will not be pushed out because the pumped air pressure is lower than the weight of the liquid. In some embodiments of this embodiment an air pump that functions similarly to an aquarium aerator that does not utilize compressed air, the pump may be turned on, and after a period of time, air will be removed from the flexible container, but the liquid will not be pushed out because the pumped air pressure is lower than the weight of the liquid. In some embodiments of this embodiment the air pump in the slvval aqua air pump model no a-852 aquarium aerator, or an aerator that which functions similarly to the SLVVAL Aqua Air Pump model no a-852, the pump may be turned on, and after a period of time, air will be removed from the flexible container, but the liquid will not be pushed out because the pumped air pressure is lower than the weight of the liquid. In some embodiments of this embodiment the air pump in the SLVVAL Aqua Air Pump model no a-852 aquarium aerator may be turned on, and after a period of time, which in some embodiments is approximately 30 seconds, air will be removed from the flexible container, but the liquid that is wine will not be pushed out because the pumped air pressure is lower than the weight of the wine.

In some embodiments if there are one or more openings in the container that allow air to enter the air trapping space that is not the air pump purging hole such that the air pump purging hole is a different opening, all of the non-air pump purging openings that lead to air trapping space have to be sealed before the air pump air that is pumped into the air trapping space will be able to exert pressure on the flexible container. In some embodiments if there are one or more openings in the container that allow air to enter the air trapping space that are not one of the more than one air pump purging holes such that the air pump purging holes are different openings, all of the non-air pump purging openings and all of the air pump purging holes that lead to air trapping space have to be sealed before the air pump air that is pumped into the air trapping space will be able to exert pressure on the flexible container.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15 that exemplarily illustrate the use of at least one air pump interior passageway that directs the pumped air to location in the air trapping space. The interior passageway can be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to air tight plastic, rubber or silicone tubing or piping. In some embodiments the interior passageway can be molded into the piece. In some embodiments, the air pump interior passageway can also function as an air intake passageway for purposes of creating the flexible container vacuum while pouring out the liquid. Reference is now made to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, that exemplarily illustrates an air purging hole and air pump interior passageway that is located on a valve attachment intermediate piece and that is directed to an air trapping space. In this embodiment, since the air pump purging hole is on a valve attachment intermediate piece, a normal bottle shape can be used below the attachment intermediate piece without putting an air pump purging hole in the bottle below the attachment piece.

Referring still to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, is some embodiments, the flexible container can be sealably attached with a valve attachment intermediate piece at an opening, called an intermediate liquid passageway 130, in the general middle area of the upper portion of the valve attachment piece. The flexible container can be sealably attached with the intermediate liquid passageway with attachers, including but not limited to, heat sealing, and adhesive. The valve attachment intermediate piece is attachable with the neck of a bottle, by including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads. In the embodiment exemplarily illustrated, the bottle is attached to the valve attachment intermediate piece with complementary threads. As exemplarily illustrated in these FIGS., in this embodiment, at least one air pump purging hole and air pump interior passageway 132 are located in the valve attachment intermediate piece. The air pump interior passageway has an interior passageway exit opening. In this embodiment it is located at underside of the ledge of the top portion of the valve attachment intermediate piece. As further exemplarily illustrated in these FIGS., the flexible container is attached with the intermediate liquid passageway in the valve attachment intermediate piece and the flexible container is not attached with the neck of the bottle. In use, the flexible container can be inserted into the bottle when the flexible container is empty, and the valve attachment intermediate piece then can be attached to the bottle. As a result, there is a space at least around all sides of the flexible container and the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the space between the neck of the bottle and the flexible container continues whereby the flexible container is sealably totally surrounded by the bottle other than where the flexible container is attached with the intermediate liquid passageway and above the at the flexible container opening. In this embodiment, when the space between the bottle and the flexible container is sealed, it becomes an air trapping space.

Still referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, in this embodiment, the intermediate liquid passageway is not as wide in diameter as the opening of the opening in the mouth of the bottle to which the valve attachment intermediate piece is attached. The top portion of the valve attachment intermediate piece is dimensioned such that then it is attached with the neck of the bottle, when the valve attachment intermediate piece is attached with the bottle, the air pump interior passageway exit opening is located inside of the interior of the neck of the bottle. As a result, in this embodiment, air pumped into the air pump purging hole in this embodiment will be directed to the space between the flexible container and interior of the bottle neck, which, as described earlier herein can be sealable and when sealed can be an air trapping space. In some embodiments of this embodiment, the air pump purging hole and the air pump interior passageway can also function as an air intake hole and passageway when the air pump purging hole is not sealed.

Still referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, in some embodiments the air pump intermediate passageway can extend down past the underside of the top portion of the valve attachment intermediate piece, and can be inserted into the bottle. The intermediate passageway can extend down by use of mechanism including, but not limited to, and pipe or tube made of materials including but not limited to silicone, rubber and plastic. In some embodiments, it would be possible to mold or include an extension on the inside of the neck of the bottle to which the air pump interior passageway exit opening 134 on the valve attachment intermediate piece could attach and/or mate. This embodiment enables the pumped air to be directed into the air trapping space further down into bottle beyond near the mouth of the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the extension can also function as an air intake passageway when the air pump purging hole is not sealed.

In some embodiments, the exterior holes in the valve attachment intermediate piece can have removable seals on them so that the valve attachment intermediate can be used as a cap before the valve attachment piece is used with it. In some embodiments, the exterior holes in the valve attachment intermediate piece can have removable seals on them so that the valve attachment intermediate can be used as a cap before the valve attachment piece and air pump are used with it.

Reference is still made to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15 which exemplarily illustrates an embodiment whereby the valve attachment intermediate piece attaches with a valve attachment piece that includes at least a ball check valve. The valve attachment piece can attach with attachers currently known in the art or to be discovered including, but not limited to, at least one, clamp, at least one draw string, at least one screw, at least one bolt, by hook and loop material, adhesive, by press fit, by snap fit, by magnetic attraction, sewing and by complementary threads. In the embodiment exemplarily, the valve attachment piece is attached to the valve attachment intermediate piece with a snap fit. The valve attachment intermediate piece has a snap indentation fittings on the interior of the intermediate liquid passageway above where the flexible container is attached. The valve attachment piece has an annular downward projection surrounding a liquid passageway that leads to the valve seat hole. The bottom of the downward projection includes outward facing snap fittings that dimensioned to snap into the snap indentation fittings on the valve attachment intermediate piece. The attachment of the valve intermediate attachment piece and the valve attachment piece can include sealers, including but not limited to silicone sealers, between at least a portion of the parts. Materials from which the sealer can be made, include materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to: silicone, rubber, plastic and cork. In addition, in some embodiments the valve attachment piece can also have a sediment barrier piece below the ball check valve seat. The attachment of the elements of the container system above the ball valve, can be as discussed in the various embodiments described above for embodiments of the container system above the ball in the ball check valve.

Still referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 15, an embodiment of a method of using the system includes the following: a valve attachment intermediate piece can be inserted into and attached to the first structure, such as but not limited to a container in the shape of a standard wine bottle; the flexible container can be filled with an ingestible liquid, such as but not limited to wine; the valve attachment piece can be attached to the valve attachment intermediate piece, a top fitment can be attached to the top of the valve attachment piece, and a manually initiated valve, such as but not limited to a ball valve, can be attached to the top fitment. The method could further include: opening the ball valve, pouring the wine; inserting an air pump hose attacher connected to an air pump into the air pump purger hole until the hole is sealed, pumping the pump until the air is pumped out up to, and therefore the liquid reaches, the ball check valve; closing the ball valve; removing the air pump attachment piece.

Reference is now made to exemplary FIGS. 13, 14, 71 and 72. In some embodiments, the air pump purging hole will transect the bottle top member and the upper support piece. In some of these embodiments, the air pump purging hole in the bottle top and the upper support piece will be aligned such that the air pump attacher will be able to attach to the air pump purging hole in the upper support piece and such that both the hole in the bottle top member and in the upper support piece are sealed. In some embodiments, a stopper at the end of an air pump tube can seal the air pump holes in both the bottle top piece and the upper support piece. In some embodiments, if the air trapping space between the upper support piece and the inside of the bottle shell, which could be but is not limited to the bottle top member, the air pump hole on the bottle shell, such as but not limited to the bottle top member, would not have to be sealed from the outside.

The FIGS. exemplarily illustrate air pumps being used for air pump purging. It is to be understood however, that these illustrations are exemplary and that any air pumps can be used provided that they will provide enough air pressure to reach the cracking value and provide they are not required to provide so much air pressure and/or for such a duration that liquid will be required to be expelled from the container system after the air is expelled.

In some embodiments, sealers can be located at junctions in the container system where air from which the air trapping space could leak if a sealer were not present Reference is now made to FIG. which exemplarily illustrates the use of a gasket at the junction of the bottle upper member and top of the outside of the lower threaded portion of the upper support piece. It is to be understood that in other embodiments sealers, including but not limited to gaskets, could be used at other locations on the system where air from an air trapping space could leak. Materials from which a sealer can be made, include materials, or combinations thereof, currently known in the art or to be discovered including but not limited to: silicone, rubber, plastic and cork.

The invention also includes embodiments of an air pump purging system and embodiments of a method for an air pump purging system for a container system for liquids ingestible by humans. The system includes at least one first structure. In some embodiments the first structure is a bottle shell. The at least one first structure at least partially defines at least one inner space. The system further includes at least one at least partially flexible container that is located at least partially in the inner space. The flexible container is at least partially fillable with at least one liquid that is ingestible by humans. The flexible container includes at least one opening. The ingestible liquid is removable from the flexible container through the at least one opening. The system further includes at least one air purger that is capable of purging air out of the at least one flexible container through the at least one opening. The system further includes at least one air-trapping space. The at least one air trapping space is located at least partially inside of the first structure and outside of the flexible container. The air trapping space has at least one air sealable opening. The system further includes at least one air pump and at least one attacher. The attacher can attach the air pump, either directly or indirectly, with the sealable opening, such that the sealable opening can be sealed when the attacher is attached. When the attacher is attached with the opening and air is inserted inside the air trapping space the air is able to be contained inside the air trapping space and thereby able to cause inward pressure on the outside of the flexible container. The air pressure on the outside of the flexible bag can cause the flexible container to flex inward and reduce the space inside of the flexible container; and thereby since air is lighter than liquid, if there is air in the flexible container, enable at least some of the air that is present in the flexible container to be forced out of the at least one opening.

The air pump purging system could be used on a container that does not have any valves in the liquid passageway. In some embodiments, the air could be purged from the flexible container and then a sealer of some kind, including but not limited to a cap or a stopper, could be applied to seal the distal opening of the liquid passageway. In some embodiments, the liquid passageway could have only at least one ball check valve or at least one ball valve. In some embodiments, the liquid passageway could have both at least one ball check valve and at least one ball valve. In some embodiments, the liquid passageway could have one or more valves other than a ball check valve or ball valve, provided the valves used in the liquid passageway can be set to let the air that is being purged from the flexible container pass out of the distal end of the liquid passageway. In some embodiments, the liquid passageway could have one or more valves in addition to at least one ball check valve and/or at least one ball valve, provided that all the valves used in the liquid passageway can be set to let the air that is being purged from the flexible container pass out of the distal end of the liquid passageway.

In some embodiments, some of the elements of the container system can be disposable. In some embodiments, all of the elements of the container system can be disposable.

Claims

1) I claim a container system for liquids that are ingestible by humans, said container system comprising at least one bottle shell, said at least one bottle shell having at least one partially shape-retaining side wall, said at least one partially shape-retaining side wall at least partially defining at least one inner space, said system further comprising at least one at least partially flexible container, said at least one at least partially flexible container being positioned in said inner space, said flexible container being at least partially fillable with said liquid, said flexible container further comprising at least one opening, said system further comprising at least one liquid passageway, and said system further comprising at least one ball check valve and at least one manually initiated valve, said at least one liquid passageway being at least partially sealable by gravity by said at least one ball check valve, said at least one liquid passageway being at least partially sealable by said at least one manually initiated valve; said ingestible liquid being removable from said flexible container through said at least one opening and through said at least one liquid passageway; said system further comprising at least one air purger, said air purger being capable of purging air out of said at least one flexible container through said at least one opening.